This article is about the Caste System in Goa, and describes the various Jātis or sub-castes to be found among Hindus belonging to the four varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra), as well as those outside of them. The traditional Hindu caste system was also retained by the Goan Catholic peasant community, and as such, their castes are mentioned here in this article.
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Hindu hierarchical caste system
According to the Gazetteer of India, Union Territory: Goa, Daman and Diu, Part I which looks at Goa (published in 1979) the "chief castes" found in Goa are :
The Brahminical communities
The following castes are generally referred to as the high castes,and follow Brahminical religion.Almost all of them claim haigher status than others and dispute social status of the others.
They are landowning and were aristocratic,though most were engaged into clerical jobs,trade and agriculture.Many played important role in politics and other administrative jobs since many centuries, also were one of the first classes to have modern education.
The intermediate castes
The following castes are generally referred to as intermediate castes:
Marathas: The Marathas historically belonged to different groups such as Chardo, Ranes, and Marathas. Now all these sub-groups identify themselves as Kshatriya Maratha. They are politically and financially influential landholding caste. Most of them have been erstwhile gentry. Some of them have descended from the erstwhile ruling and oligarchic families.Some families were into trade. They are commonly known as Desai/Dessai and Ranes in different parts of Goa.
Vaishya Vani are traditional community of traders,and are commonly known as Vanis.
Peasants and others
The rest of the castes are generally referred to as the Bahujan samaj or the masses. Almost all of them follow Folk Hinduism.these include:
Bhandaris
Bhandaris(commonly known as Naiks) form the largest caste group in the state of Goa, reportedly being over 30% of that state's Hindu population, and play a major role in deciding the future of any political party there.They categorized as Other Backward Class. They are the prominent peasant caste of Goa and Konkan.
Kalavants
Commonly known as Kalavants and now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj is a group of various sub-castes who served the temples and the aristocrats in the olden days.Gomantak Maratha is relatively a new ameliorative name (coined in the late 20th century)given to these groups for uniting and emancipating them.
Others
Artisan castes include Charis,Chitaris who call themselves Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmin and Kasars.They are included in the Other Backward Class list of the Government of India.
Rest of castes generally referred to as Shudras or Sudirs in Konkani do not really follow the four-fold varna system,but have recently started claiming higher status.Most of them have been practicing different occupations historically and now are categorized as Other Backward Class by Govt of Goa,these include Kharvi (Koli), Madval (Rajak, Dhobi), Dhangar, Gosavi, Pagui, Shimpi, Teli, Kumbar, Nathjogi, Nhavi (Nai, Nabhik, Napit, Mahalo) (this list also includes Roman Catholic counterparts of few Hindu castes too)
Scheduled Castes of Goa
Following castes are commonly known as Harijans or Dalits.
Scheduled Tribes of Goa
The Gauda and Kunbi are considered as aboriginals by some historians though this claim is disputed.
Other religions
In Goa, mass conversions were carried out by Portuguese Latin missionaries from the 16th century onwards. The Hindu converts retained their caste practices. The continued maintenance of the caste system among the Christians in Goa is attributed to the nature of mass conversions of entire villages, as a result of which existing social stratification was not affected. The Portuguese colonists, even during the Goan Inquisition, did not do anything to change the caste system. Thus, the original Hindu Brahmins in Goa now became Christian Bamonns and the Kshatriya became Christian noblemen called Chardos . The Christian clergy became almost exclusively Bamonn. Vaishyas who converted to Christianity became Gauddos, and Shudras became Sudirs. Finally, the Dalits or "Untouchables" who converted to Christianity became Maharas and Chamars (an appellation of the anti-Dalit ethnic slur Chamaar).